How to Estimate Litter Size for Dogs

Estimating your dog's litter size can help you prepare your home for the puppies.

Imagine giving birth to 17 babies. If your pregnant dog is a giant-size breed, she could do just that. Dr. Debra Primovic of petplace.com, says dogs can have anywhere from one to 17 puppies in a litter. You may be eager to know (out of excitement or anxiety) the size of your dog's litter. It can be difficult to guess if you aren't a veterinarian or an experienced breeder.

Instructions

1. Make your dog an appointment with a vet. Because there are some conditions, such as false pregnancy or mastitis that can seem like pregnancy, you should have a veterinarian confirm the pregnancy.

2. Ask your veterinarian to palpate your dog's uterus about 45 days into the pregnancy. This technique can confirm the pregnancy and allow your vet to guess how many puppies are in the litter.

3. Order an ultrasound for your dog to get a more exact estimate. An ultrasound will not only show you how many puppies to expect, it can verify the health of the puppies as well. Dr. Primovic says an ultrasound can show the puppies about 21 days into the pregnancy.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't try to palpate your dog's uterus unless you are an experienced breeder. You might not get an accurate estimate and you risk injuring the puppies.

References

• The Stages of Canine Labor: When Your Dog is About to Give Birth; Ron Hines DVM PhD
• "Petplace.com"; Pregnancy in Dogs; Dr. Debra Primovic